The concepts developed in this standard
include the following:
• Temperature is the measure of the amount of heat energy in
the atmosphere.
• Air pressure is due to the weight of the air and is
determined by several factors including the temperature of the air.
• A front is the boundary between air masses of different
temperature and humidity.
• Cirrus, stratus, cumulus, and cumulo-nimbusclouds are
associated with certain weather conditions.
• Cumulus clouds are fluffy and white with flat bottoms. They usually
indicate fair weather. However, when they get larger and darker on the
bottom, they produce thunderstorms.
• Stratus clouds are smooth, gray clouds that cover the whole sky
(block out direct sunlight). Light rain and drizzle are usually associated
with stratus clouds.
• Cirrus clouds are feathery clouds. They are associated with fair
weather. Cirrus clouds often indicate that rain or snow will fall within
several hours.
• Extreme atmospheric conditions create various kinds of storms such as
thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
• Different atmospheric conditions create different types of precipitation.
• Meteorologists gather data by using a variety of instruments.
• Meteorologists use data to predict weather patterns.
• A barometer measures air pressure.
• An anemometer measures wind speed.
• A rain gauge measures precipitation.
• A thermometer measures the temperature of the air.

In
order to meet this standard, it is expected that students will be able to
• use a thermometer to compare air temperatures over a period of time.
• analyze the changes in air pressure occurring over time, using a
barometer, and predict what the changes mean in terms of changing
weather patterns.
• differentiate between the types of weather associated with high and low
pressure air masses. Illustrate and label high and low pressure air
masses and warm and cold fronts.
• differentiate between cloud types (cirrus, stratus, cumulus, and cumulo-nimbus
clouds) and the associated weather.
• compare and contrast the formation of different types of precipitation (rain,
snow, sleet, and hail).
• recognize a variety of storm types, describe the weather conditions
associated with each, and explain when they occur (thunderstorms,
hurricanes, and tornadoes).
• analyze and report information about temperature and precipitation on
weather maps.
• measure wind speed, using an anemometer.
• measure precipitation with a rain gauge.
• design an investigation in which weather data are gathered using
meteorological tools and charted to make weather predictions.

Illustrated Standards

Standards in yellowExplanation in white

• Temperature is the measure of the amount of
heat energy in the atmosphere.

·

·• Air pressure is due to the weight of the air and is determined by several
factors including the temperature of the air.

Cold air is denser and heavier than hot air, and so exerts
greater air pressure.

• A front is the boundary between air masses of
different temperature and humidity.
All fronts are boundaries between masses
of air with different densities, usually caused by temperature
differences (cold air is denser than hot air).

A high pressure air
mass brings cooler, drier air. A low pressure air mass brings
warmer, more humid air.

COLD FRONT
• A cold front is a warm-cold air boundary with the colder air
replacing the warmer.

•
While a winter cold front can bring frigid air, summer cold fronts,
summer cold fronts bring air that might be only a few degrees cooler, but
much less humid.
Click
here
or
here to read more about cold fronts.

WARM FRONT
•
A warm front is the boundary between warm and cool,
or cold, air when the warm air is replacing the cold air. It sounds
good, but warm fronts often bring days of
wet weather.

• As the warm air advances northward it rides over the cold air ahead
of it, which is heavier. As the warm air rises the water vapor in it
condenses into clouds that can produce rain, snow, sleet or freezing
rain. Click
here for more on warm fronts.

•
Cirrus, stratus, cumulus,
and cumulo-nimbus clouds are associated with
certain weather conditions.•
Extreme atmospheric conditions create various kinds of storms such as
thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes.·•
Different atmospheric conditions create different types of precipitation.

•
Cirrus clouds are
feathery and fibrous clouds. They are associated with fair
weather. Cirrus clouds often indicate that rain or snow will
fall within several hours.

Cirrus Clouds

•
Cumulus clouds are
fluffy and white with flat bottoms. They usually indicate
fair weather.

Cumulus
Clouds

Cumulo-nimbus clouds However, when they get larger
and darker on the bottom, they produce thunderstorms.

Cumulonimbus
Cloud produce thunderstorms and extreme weather

•
Stratus clouds are
smooth, gray clouds that cover the whole sky (block out
direct sunlight). Light rain and drizzle are usually
associated with stratus clouds.

Stratus
Clouds

•
Meteorologists gather data by using a variety of instruments•
Meteorologists use data to predict weather patterns.